Buying a Powerboat and Intercoastal Travel

[Jerry and Judy Thick]

We are planning to buy a powerboat to take the ICW from Bay City, Michigan to Fla. I need to know what type and size of boat would you recommend I shop for this trip. At this point the crew would be limited to 2 and I have never owned any boat over 16 feet. Are pontoon boats with living quarters a possibility or are we limited to powerboats and if so what type and size would you recommend. Also, where are the better areas to shop for this boat purchase.



Cookies4090@voyager.net

[Catherine Monaghan]

I'm assuming your trip will take you via the lakes and canals to the Hudson River. Once you leave the Hudson River at Sandy Hook you'll be at sea for the entire length on NJ if you choose to travel on the outside, entering the ICW via the C&D Canal, or you'll enter the ICW from the sea at Manasquan Inlet in NJ. I don't think that you should even consider making the trip from Sandy Hook to Manasquan in a pontoon boat. You need something seaworthy that can take the ocean swells and the tossing around that can be experienced when entering an inlet. Running an inlet can be dangerous even in good weather.

If you're interested in Cape Dory motor yachts they are certainly capable of making the trip.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay

We are planning to buy a powerboat to take the ICW from Bay City, Michigan to Fla. I need to know what type and size of boat would you recommend I shop for this trip. At this point the crew would be limited to 2 and I have never owned any boat over 16 feet. Are pontoon boats with living quarters a possibility or are we limited to powerboats and if so what type and size would you recommend. Also, where are the better areas to shop for this boat purchase.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Bill Stebbins]

My wife and I purchased a Cape Dory 28 last year in North Carolina and are bringing it up the ICW, Hudson, Erie Canal, Lake Ontario, Trent Severn Canal, and finally to Georgian Bay and the North Channel to Drummond Island in Northern Lake Huron. Somewhat the reverse of your trip. It will be an excellent boat for the trip. I assume your piloting and navigational skills are up to the task. You will need the latest charts for the trip and a good compass and if possible a GPS. For coastal travel (i.e. New Jersey) just keep a close eye on the weather and, if bad, wait it out. CD 28s for sale can be found in the magazine "Soundings". Good Luck!

stebbins@umich.edu